unknown to strangers which are round about The Venetians generally are grave in Counsell severe in judgement constant in adversity and moderat in prosperity Ther is an unanimous study in them all to conserve the public liberty and to encrease their Empire In the Senat they speak with much freedom and oftentimes with much heat and eagernes if the cause require Ther is not any of the Senatorian Order or others though he excell the rest never so much in wisdom spirit or valour and services performd for the Republic that is sufferd to grow too high or by conciliation of popular credit and esteem to becom too powerfull By which reach of policy and institution they use in their Wars by Land to employ strangers for their Generall lest one of their own might be puffd up with pride and grow too ambitious They are all grave Gownmen who have administerd this Republic from the beginning and preservd Her from intestin tumults But touching maritime affaires and navall discipline these grave men shake off their togated Habitts and receave Martiall employment according to the exigency of the ocasion Some Observations of the Citty and Signorie of Venice taken out of Sansovino THe Air of Venice is exceeding good because it is continually purgd with the flux and reflux of the Adriatic Sea which carry away with it every six howers whatsoever is corrupt and noysom besides the multitude of fires dissolveth all unwholsom vapors and the free scope of the winds blowing every where without impediment maketh the Air more sound and vigorous besides much is attributed to the saltnes which being by its nature more hot and lesse cold engendreth an equall and most sweet temperature so that strangers with great amazement do not any where behold men more venerable of greter age fuller of flesh streight bodied of goodly presence and more vigorous constitution but above all other things this is most strange that this Air by a speciall priviledg of Nature doth agree with the complexions of all commers that resort thither of what Nation or under what climat soever they be born whether the same be subtill and penetrating or thick and foggie Round about ther is such an innumerable quantity of all excellent sorts of Fish that not only the Inhabitants have plenty of Fish taken twice evry day but they allso furnish the adjoyning Citties upon the Continent as well those that are under their Dominion as others The like marvailous abundance they have of wildfoull so different in kind and divers in colour that t is strange to see their various sorts their variety being such that we have seen 200 severall kinds of them painted most exactly in their naturall hue by Marino Malipiero the most exquisit and ingenious man of his time in that Art This Citty above all other is worthy to be admired as being singular by Her self and brooking no comparison with any other For what other Citty soever hath bin either plesant by situation or glorious in goodlines of buildings yet it had som kind of resemblance with others but only this being seated in the midst of the waters hath not any thing upon Earth to which it may be resembled the rare position whereof being such that it injoyeth the comodities of the waters and the plesures of the Land secure by being among the waves from Land assaults and free by not being founded in the depths of the Sea from Maritim violences So that whereas other Citties do keep and defend their Cittizens with Walls Towers and Gates This being naked and without Ramparts is not only secure Her-self but rendereth allso with admirable prudence such Citties secure as do sleep under Her wings Among many other rare Edifices sumptuous as well in the richnes of the matter as marvailous for the most singular curiosity of workmanship the Steeple of S. Mark is most miraculous the same being so huge high and stately that in faire wether it is seen and discernd by those that sayl from Istria 100 miles off the speciall care and oversight wherof is comitted allwayes to a person of speciall quality who hath for his allowance 150. Crowns yeerly stipend VVE will now descend to som particular customes of this Mayden Citty as her maner of marying and of the fruits therof Her Christnings Mariages among the Nobility ar for the most part alwayes treted of by a third person the Bride being never suffer'd as much as to see her future Husband nor He Her untill the mariage dower and all things therunto appertaining be fully agreed upon and concluded which being don the next morning the Bridegrome goeth to the Court of the Palace and there the match being publish'd he receaveth well-wishing speeches and salutations from such of the Nobility as doe enter into the Pallace and withall inviteth his frends to the house of the Brides Father to be there at a certain time appointed in the afternoon At the entry of the dore they are attended by the Bridegroom and his kinred and brought up to a Hall wher ther are none but men only and there the Bride is brought forth apparrell'd by an ancient custom all in white her haires dischevell'd and hanging about her sholdiers woven in and out with filletts of Gold where being betroth'd with many solemn Ceremonies She is led about the Hall with Flutes Drums and other instruments still dancing in a soft mesure then She boweth down to those that salute Her Having so shew'd Her-self She goeth in returneth out again If any men friends do chance to com that had not seen Her before She comes out and presents Herself then She entreth to a Gondola and being attended by divers other She goeth up and down to the Nunneries specially to those where any of Her Kinred are reclusd Now this shewing of Her self abroad is to no other end but in regard of Her Children and sundry other things it may after happen She may make Her Nuptialls apparant to all At evry Wedding ther is a Gentleman or two calld Compari that are as it were Masters of the Revells because their charge is to see unto the Musik and whatsoever other shewes or pastimes appertain to the Feast the next Morning their Friends and Kinred present the new Married couple with sundry sorts of Restoratives and sweet Meates THe Christnings in Venice are somewhat diffring from other places for the Father inviteth not two God-fathers and a God-mother or two God-mothers and a God-father but as many as they list insomuch that somtimes ther have bin above 150 at a Christning but to the end that this Goshipship shold no way be a bar or impediment among the Gentlewomen in matter of Mariage it was by a Law ordained that one Gentleman shold not take another Gentleman for his Goship whence it cometh that when the Priest powreth the Water on the Childs Head he first maketh mention of the Law and then demandeth if ther be among the Goships any one of the Venetian Nobility
S. P Q. V. A SURVAY OF THE SIGNORIE OF VENICE Of Her admired policy and method of GOVERMENT c. WITH A Cohortation to all Christian Princes to resent Her dangerous Condition at present By JAMES HOVVELL Esq. LONDON Printed for Richard Lowndes at the VVhite Lion in S. Pauls Churchyard neer the West end M. DC LI. TO THE SUPREME AUTHORITY OF THE NATION THE PARLEMENT OF ENGLAND Most Noble Senators LEngth of Age argues strength of Constitution and as in Naturall bodies so this Rule holds good likewise in Politicall Whence it may be inferrd that the Signorie of Venice from Her Infancy was of a strong Symmetry well nursd and swadled with wholsom Lawes which are no other than the ligaments of a State or the Arteries whereby the bloud is directed and strengthened to run through all the veines in due proportion though Nature allowes som to have a greter quantity than others To this may be attributed Her so long duration for having bin born a Christian and Free from the beginning She hath continued a pure Virgin and an Independent but only upon Her-self neer upon 13 Ages She hath shind in Her VVatry Orb among all other Republiques upon Earth as the Moon doth in the Heavens among the rest of the Planets Though She hath cop'd with the gretest Potentats of the World and particularly with the huge Ottoman Emperour Her Neighbour having not only scratchd his face and oftentimes cut off those tuffs of hair wherin his strength lay for the time but peeld his beard and somtimes pluckd him by the Mustachos She is now in actuall luctation and hath bin any time these six yeers at handy-gripes with that monstrous Giant who this yeer intends to bend and bandy all his Forces both by Land and Sea to ravish and ruin Her Therfore it imports all Christian Princes to resent Her condition She being both the Key and Bulwark of Europe that way And with humble leave I speak it it may well becom England now that she is more formidable at Sea than ever to be sensible of Her case That Republic having bin her antient Confederat ever since the association of the Holy Warr and having for this last Centurie mingled interests and run the same cours of state with Her Nor is it a Quaere altogether impertinent but may very well admit of a debate whether a warr against the Turk might not prove more advantagious to England than his wares Moreover if likenes may beget love England hath reson to affect Venice more than any other for in point of security ther is much resemblance between them being both seated in the Sea who is their best Protector The one preserves Her-self by her Gallies the other by her Galeons The fairest flower of England is the Dominion of the Narrow Seas the gretest glory of Venice is the Dominion of the Adriatic Gulph 700 miles in extent Venice had the chiefest hand in framing the Rhodian Lawes for Sea cases by which all the Levant parts are guided and England was the busiest in constituting the Maritim Lawes of Oleron whereby the Western World is governd This following Survay which is like a Frame indented with sundry peeces will I beleeve make the Reder both outwardly and inwardly acquainted with this Mayden Republic for it shewes Her policy and power Her warrs exploits and confederacies Her interests of State together with Her advantages and defects and how farr She hath trodd in the stepps of old Rome Therfore most humbly under favor the Author deemd it a peece of industry not alltogether unworthy to be presented unto that Noble Assembly by Their daylie Orator HOWELL The famous Hexastic which Sannazarius made upon the Citty of Venice for which he receavd 100 Zecchins for evry verse amounting neer to 300 sterling in lieu of reward by decree of the Senat. VIderat Adriacis Venetam Neptunus in Undis Stare Urbem toti ponere jura Mari Nunc mihi Tarpeias quantumvis Iupiter Arces Objice illa tui maenia Martis ait Sic Pelago Tibrim praefers Urbem aspice utramque Illam Homines dices Hanc posuisse Deos. WHen Neptun 'mong his billowes Venice saw And to the Adrian Surges giving law He sayed now Iove boast of thy Capitoll And Mars his Walls This were for to extoll Tiber above the Main Both Citties Face You 'l say Rome men Venice the Gods did trace A short Analysis of the whole Peece A VENICE LOOKING-GLASSE Wherin that rare and renowned City and Signory is represented in Her tru Colours with Reflexes I. UPon Her Constitutions and Government wherin ther may be divers things usefull for this Meridian II. Of the extent and distance of Her Dominions III. Of Her Interests of State with the rest of the Princes of Italie and others IV. Of Her imitation of old Rome in most things V. Of Her advantages and defects VI. Of Her power by Sea and Land VII Of Her 98 Dukes Doges or Souverain Princes In whose Lifes is involvd the Historicall part which looks upon the Greek Empire and Turky as well as upon most Countreys in Europe in whose Councells tending either to Peace or Warr the Republic of Venice hath had as great a share as any other Christian Prince THe Author desires to prepossesse the Reder with this advertisement That he would not have adventurd upon this remote Out landish subject had he not bin himself upon the place had he not had practicall conversation with the peeple of whom he writes As little had he presumd upon the Life of the last French King and Richelieu his Cardinall in the Story calld LUSTRA LUDOVICI unlesse he had bin Spectator of most of his actions And herin the Author desires to be distinguishd from those who venture to write of Forren affaires and Countreys by an implicit faith only taking all things upon trust having Themselfs never trodd any part of the Continent Upon the Citty and Signorie of VENICE COuld any State on Earth Immortall be Venice by Her rare Goverment is She Venice Great Neptunes Minion still a Mayd Though by the warrlikst Potentats assayd Yet She retaines Her virgin-Virgin-waters pure Nor any Forren mixtures can endure Though Syren-like on Shore and Sea Her Face Enchants all those whom once She doth embrace Nor is ther any can Her bewty prize But he who hath beheld Her with his Eyes These following Leaves display if well observd How She so long Her Maydenhead preservd How for sound prudence She still bore the Bell Whence may be drawn this high-fetchd parallel Venus and Venice are Great Queens in their degree Venus is Queen of Love Venice of Policie I. H. OF THE REPUBLIC OR SIGNORIE OF VENICE The PROEME WEre it within the reach of humane brain to prescribe Rules for fixing a Society and Succession of peeple under the same Species of Goverment as long as the World lasts the Republic of Venice were the fittest pattern on Earth both for direction and imitation This Maiden City
which denominats the whole Common-wealth had the Prerogative to be born a Christian and Independent wherof Shee glorieth and that not undeservedly above all other States or Kingdomes It seems some propitious Star was predominant at Her Nativity and that Nature brought Her forth with her limms well knit and apt to grow up to a strong constitution which is the cause that She is so long liv'd and hath continued above a thousand hot Sommers an intemerat Virgin under the same face and form of Goverment It is the cause that She looks still fresh and flourishing without the least furrow of age in her forehead or any visible symptom of decay wherunto Civill Bodies as well as Naturall by those distempers and common accidents which attend Time use to be subject This beauteous Maid hath bin often attempted to be deflowrd som have courted Her som would have bribd Her and divers wold have forcd Her yet she still preserv'd her chastity entire She hath wrestled with the greatest powers upon Earth East West North and South both by Land and Sea The Emperour the Kings of France Spain and Hungary with most of the other Princes of Christendom in that famous League at Cambray at which time she had a shrewd fit of the green sicknes which threatned a consumption would have quite sunk Her but She bore up still above water and broke that League to flitters though I must confesse she was forced then to peece her Lion's skin with a Foxe's tayl and to destroy that by wit which she could not doe with her weapon The Eastern Emperours have divers times set upon her skirts The Gran Turk hath bin often at Her and She is now tugging hard with him but he could never have his will of Her for though She hath often clos'd with him yet She came still off with her mayden-head cleer She hath had sundry Thunder-bolts darted at Her from the Vatican yet She kept her self still free from all inward combustions and all popular tumults both in her Church State notwithstanding that She expeld from her Territories the greatest supporters of the Popes Chair when She gave the Iesuits this cold farewell Andate niente pigliate mai retornate Goe your wayes take nothing and never return As also that She long since made her Ecclesiastics incapable to inherit Stable possessions or sit in the Senat in regard they have a dependance and juramentall obligation in divers things to another Prince viz. the Pope therfore before any suffrage passe in the Councell the common cry is fuora I preti Out Presbyters This curbing of the Clergy hath caus'd divers clashes twixt her and Rome so that once the Pope began to question Her right to the Dominion of the Gulph and asking her Ambassador what warrant She had for it He answered If your Holines please to produce the Instrument wherby the Emperour Constantine passed over the City of Rome to your predecessors upon the back of that Grant your Holines will find the Venetian Charter to the Dominion of the Adriatic Gulph Another time Gregory the 13. threatning to excommunicat the Doge and the Senat about a controversie that had arisen touching the bounds of their Territories Nicholas Pontanus answered Censuram Pontificiam esse gladium vagina inclusum qui temerè distringi non deberet ne discerent homines contemnere ejusmodi Telâ—…m c. The Pontificiall censure viz. Excommunication is like a sword sheath'd up in a scabbard which ought not to be rashly drawn out lest men might learn to slight that kind of weapon Yet these traverses twixt Saint Peter and Saint Mark could never shake Venice in the main of the Roman Religion wherin She was born baptized and bred but She still reverenc'd the Church in her own Sphere and function and suffers her to enjoy above 2. millions of yeerly revenue to this day And indeed 't was one of her primitive principles of policy at the first erection of her Republique to bear a singular veneration to the Church imitating herein as in many other particulars the Common-wealth of Rome her Mother who rais'd her self a notable repute among other Nations for her extraordinary reverence to the Gods Nor are ther many Christian Princes who deserve better of Rome than Venice for She hath often supported the Popes Chair when it was tottering nay being once quite thrust out She riggd her gallies and resettled Him in it as will appeer And of later yeers She resented it extremely when Bourbon scal'd the walls of Rome Besides She wold not admit Henry the fourth's Ambassador from France to Her Chappell till his Master was reconcil'd to the Church of Rome Nor did She keep Saint Peters bark only from sinking but She spread her sayles and displayed her banners allso for preserving the Eastern Emperour when Christian from the furie of the Saracens and other barbarous peeple SHE had so great a share in the conquest of the Holy Land that She had one part of Ierusalem allotted her for her quarter and had not the state of Genoa a potent Republic in those times bin so perverse and repin'd at the glory of Venice her elder sister Venice had bin the Glory of Europe and the Christians might in all probability have kept footing in Palestine to this very day for the clashings betwixt these two were the cause that the conquests which the Crosse had gott in those Eastern parts were of so small continuance We read how Rome became a prostitut to severall Nations and sorts of governments and one only warr made as it were an end of her quite but Venice Vertu like repulsae nescia sordidae Intaminatis fulget honoribus I say Venice to this day though all her neighbours round about farr and nere have tuggd with her by Land and Sea yet like the constellation of Virgo among the celestiall bodies she shines still among the Kingdoms on earth like a bright unravish'd Virgin And may do so to the Worlds end if she be still true to her self as Thuanus sayeth who undertakes to be her prophet in these words Venetiae non nisi cum Rerum â—…aturâ Et Mundi machinâ periturae Till Nature and the Univers decline Venice within her Watry Orb shall shine Som Reasons why Venice hath lasted so long in the same condition of Liberty NOw how this longliv'd Republic came to do those notable atchievments abroad and conserve her self from all popular tumults and revolutions at home so many Ages may be imputed besides the politic frame of her goverment in generall which shall be treated of hereafter to these particular reasons following 1. SHE hath bin allwayes constant to her self and to her first fundamentalls principles for She hath bin allwayes an enemy to change holding it to be a wholsom caveat that Ipsa mutatio consuetudinis magis perturbat novitate quà m adjuvat utilitate viz. The change of custom useth to perturb a State more by it's noveltie than advantage it by
support Religion She hath allso two very eminent men the one a sound Divine the other a learned Casuist that have a pension from the Republic who are allwayes ready in case She have any contestation with Rome to defend and vindicat Her by public writing and to satisfy the world of her proceeding as Paolo Servita did Thus have you in part som reasons which will be enforced in the following description of her Goverment how Venice came to last so many centuries a pure unspotted Virgin and free not only from all forren ravishments and assaults but allso from all intestin commotions and tumults 'T is true that som short combustions have happen'd in Her but by Her wisedom and providence they prov'd but as fyres of flax or stubble which no sooner flash'd out but they suddenly extinguish'd of themselfs And this is the more to be wondred at because it is observ'd that as rank excuberant grounds use to be more subject to bear weeds of all sorts than other soyles so rich luxurious Citties are more expos'd to corrupt superfluous humors which use to break out into strange distempers and high feavers 'T is well known that Venice hath bin allwayes such a Cittie yet by Her extraordinary prudence She hath and doth still preserve her self from such distempers notwithstanding that She swimms in wealth and wantones as well as she doth in the waters notwithstanding that She melts in softnes and sensualitie as much as any other whatsoever for 't is too well known ther is no place where ther is lesse Religion from the girdle downward yet She suffers not those frayl vessels of plesure to mingle with her other Daughters in Church-Communion But now we will proceed to the Originall of her Republic and the frame of her Goverment wherby She hath endur'd so many hundreds of hard winters and hott sommers Of the Originall of the Signorie of Venice and of her Government ITalie hath bin allwayes accounted the Eye of Europe the Mirrour of policy and once Mistresse of the World Although putting all dimensions together and taking her length to peece out her latitude She be scarce as big as England yet hath She a Kingdom 450. miles long and 112. in breadth for Naples and Calabria are so which containes 2700. Townes 20. Archbishopricks sixcore and seven Bishops 13. Princes 24. Dukes 25. Marquises and 800. Barons She hath a Popedom which extends its Territories 300. miles long and is situated 'twixt two Seas viz. the Adriatic and Tyrrhene Seas and so runs through the midst of Her which makes the Pope to be more proper ct capable to be an Umpire or Enemy upon any occasion of difference that side the Alps For besides his navall strength he can put into the field an Army of 50000. well arm'd men in case of necessity being a mixt Prince 'twixt spirituall and temporall She hath allso divers other Principalities The Dutchie of Milan is little inferior to the Popedom in point of strength The gran Duke of Toscany hath 20000. arm'd men inroll'd train'd up and in perpetuall pay with 400. light horse and 100. gendarmes all which are quarter'd in so narrow a compasse that he can command them all to his Court at Florence in fower and twenty howers The Duke of Savoy who is accounted allso one of her Princes is far beyond the Florentine in power There be allso in Her the Dukes of Parma of Urbin and Mantoua who are Soverain Princes Besides all these Italie hath three Republiques viz. that of Venice that of Genoa and that of Luca which may be sayed to differ one from the other as the three degrees of comparison wherof Venice is the superlatif and indeed she may be term'd so being compar'd to any Republic on earth take her power by sea and land together It is well known that Kingdomes take their denomination diversly som take their names from the whole bulk of Earth and Countrey it self which they possesse as the Kingdom of Spain the Kingdom of Denmark c. Som are denominated ab eminentiori from the chief Metropolis as Rome in times pass'd had the glory to denominat the whole Empire and after her Constantinople and as now Morocco names that Kingdom and Naples christneth Hers though I must confesse the King of Spain now adaies termes not himself King of Naples but Utriusque Siciliae of both Siciles and it may be thought he doth this to displease the Pope the lesse who still claymes title to it Thus is it with Kingdoms but touching Common-wealths They for the most part take allways their denomination from the principall Cittie as Athens of old with divers others and now Venice Genoa c. But I find that Venice takes the state upon Her to be nam'd still in the plurall nomber Venetiae which strain of statelines doubtles with other things she borrowed from the Greeks who nam'd sundry of their Citties only in the plurall as Thebae Athenae c. but more of this hereafter Now to her government Of the Government constitution and frame of the Signorie of Venice THere is not any thing that discovers the prudence of a peeple more than the manner and method of their Government Government is that great hinge wheron all Kingdoms and Commonwealths do move But in this Aequorean Republic for she may not improperly be call'd so in regard She commands secures and scowres all the yeer long above 700. miles of Sea for that is the extent of the Adriatic Gulph from the Cittie of Venice to Otranto in Calabria I say Government in Her may be call'd the râ—…dder that steers the great vessell of State Her constitutions and lawes are the ligaments and cables felicity wealth and glory are the sayls and the breath of her Senators the wind that blowes them The common good is the pole wherat the needle or lillie of the compas allways points Religion the main mast which bears the colours of her Saint though the chief Pilot or Master of this vessell the Doge be of himself but as a head of wood a Testa di legno set up in the forecastle of the stern without the coadvice of som of the Masters mates wherof there are many because she wold not be subject to the infirmities and faylings of one who might haply erre and be mistaken in the use of the compasse or transported with irregular passions Now there is nothing so uncertain and difficult as the Art of Goverment Hominem homini imperare difficillimum and those who from Apprentices have bin bredd up Iourneymen and Masters in this art and have spent their youth manhood and a long time of old age therein yet when they left the world they profess'd themselfs still but Novices therin And this may be imputed to those various events and contingencies which attend humane negotiations together with the discrepant fancies of men specially of the common multitud who in lightnes match the winds and outgoe the waves of the Sea in fury oftentimes Ther
Westward allso by other parts of the Alps where the river Liquentia separats her from the Mark of Treviso and Southward runns the Adriatic Sea She is a region that hath plesant fields well waterd with rivers and fountains ther are great store of vineyards woods mineralls and quarries of stone The noble river Hydra runns there nere which ther is quicksylver diggd up the Inhabitants are ingenious enough for all humane Arts and marchandizing Friuli is commonly among the Venetians calld La Patria whence som inferr that they had their Originall thence Istria hath for her Bounds Westward the river Timavas Northward the Alps which separat Hungarie and Carniola from Italie Eastward She hath the river Arsias the rest is compassd with the Adriatic Sea She is a rough uneven Countrey yet She may be sayed to swell with hillocks rather than high hills but She hath one which surpasseth all the rest calld Montemajor She hath woods fitt for Shipps and all other uses She hath allso good store of stone quarreis whence ther is much marble diggd out for the service of Venice her Mistresse and other places of Italie The Inhabitants are poorer than in other Countreys yet they have divers Citties Townes and Villages The Countrey of Brescia is of large extent neer upon one hundred miles and fifty miles broad In this tract of Land there rise up mountaines hillocks plaines and valleys inlayed with Townes Villages and plesant Houses very thick in most places So that ther is little of the earth left idle In this territorie ther are so many Castles Townes and Villages that they can hardly be found thicker any where The Soyle abounds with wheat millet and other grains ther is plenty of wine and oile with other fruits Moreover ther is great quantity of iron and copper diggd up and down in the mines wherof the Inhabitants make very great benefitt The Countrey of Bergamo is fertile enough except towards the North where it is mountanous rough and barren Yet ther are valleys in great nombers wherof som produce wine and oile very plesant but som of them are steril and good for nothing only som iron mines are found here and there In Bergamo is spoken one of the coorsest dialects of all the Italian toung Verona and her Territories are next She is seated on a very plesant and comodious river the Athesis She is cape Cittie of the second rank through all Italie Som hold her name to be originally Brenona of Brennus the Britain who was General of an Army of Gaules for his extraordinary valour In this name of Verona is comprehended the three most renowned Citties of Italie viz. Ve-Venice Ro-Rome and Na-Naples her territories are 65. miles in length and 40. in bredth This Cittie hath yet the ruines of one of the fairest Amphitheaters that ever was and Catullus the Poet makes her somwhat more famous because he was born in her The Countrey circumjacent abounds with wheat wine oiles sheep and very good fleeces with abundance of the choicest and most delicat fruits it hath excellent quarreis of stone with rivers lakes and pools and rare fountains sources of fresh waters with most choice medicinal Simples upon the mountain Baldus where all Physicians resort Crema bordering upon Milan with her territory hath an excellent soyl fruitfull and well cultivated and extraordinarily well wooded She hath very generous wines and exquisit sorts of fruit many brooks of cleer water which are well stord with fish and abundance of Lampreys They have one kind of fish whom the Inhabitants call Marsoni whose head is neer twice as bigg as the body but of a most savoury tast Crema was a long time under the Vicountship of Milan untill the yeer 1405. at which time together with Brixia it came under the Dominion of the Signorie by conditions of peace twixt Francis Sforza them since when She is mightily improvd in wealth and civilitie Iohannes Cremensis was a Natif of this he was employd Anno 1125. by Pope Honorius the second in quality of Legat to England to disswade the Clergie from mariage wherupon a Convocation was calld wherin the Legat made a very eloquent Speech in comendation of Celibat and how advantagious it was for Churchmen to live single and sequestred from the cares of the world and encombrances of humane affaires Padua a most reverend learned old Citie in Latin calld Patavium Antenor the Trojan is recorded to be her Founder whose Tomb is there still extant She was erected an Academy Anno 1222. Her fame spreads all the earth over for a Seminary of the best Physicians having a Garden of Simples accordingly She is famous for the birth of Livie the great Roman Annalist whose picture is to be seen fresh to this day and of late yeers for Zabarell and Maginus In former times She was much cryed up for the mansuetude of the men and the pudicity of her women so that the Patavian chastity grew to be a proverb wherunto alludes the Roman Epigrammatist speaking of her in his wanton Poems Tu quoque nequitias nostri lusúsque libelli Uda puella leges sis Patavina licet Padâ—…a was in times passd girt about with a treble wall but a double contents her now which hath very deep Ditches round about for the River Brent with infinit expence and labour was brought to this Cittie which hath much advantaged her both for strength and navigation She is situated in a most delightfull and uberous plain enjoying a sweet temperat clime with a singular good soyle by reason of the neighbourhood of the Euganean mountains which are Westward of Her The Inhabitants have high witts and apt for pike or pen The circumference of the Cittie is twofold inward and outward the first hath but three miles compas the second neer upon seven miles about the Cittie the walks may be calld a perpetuall kind of gallerie Her Temples and dwelling Houses both public and privat are more magnificent than elswhere She hath six stately Gates five large Markett places She hath within the Walls 22. great Churches 23. Monasteries and 29. Religious Houses for Nunnes She hath the most renowned Hall for public Justice of any Town in Italie coverd all with lead and yet propd upon no pillars the Councell Court hath Gates and Columns of Marble She hath 28. Bridges archd over the Brent which runns through her She hath very spacious Piazzas She hath 6. Hospitalls three for the poor and three for Pilgrims She hath a place calld the Monte de pietá which was set up of purpose to root out the lucre and exorbitant feneration of the Jewes who were usd to demand twenty in the hundred for brocage She hath two Hospitalls besides for Orphans and other poor Children Ther are 38000. Crownes depositated in the hands of severall persons of quality where the poorer sort may make their addresse with their pawns and if it be under thirty shillings they pay no use for the money if it be
under the Dominion of the Republic till the yeer 1509. at which time She made a dedition of her self to Lewis the 12. of France who passd her over to the Emperour Maximilian and he to Charles his Nephew King of Spain Then She was tumbled to Francis the first King of France till at last She returnd under the Venetian 1517. Ther is a gentle river runns through the Cittie She hath many Townes and Villages wherof She is Mistresse but the worst is that the Mountaines are too neer them which causeth that they cannot be so fruitfull Besides these places upon the Continent of Italie the Republic hath Dominions over all the maritim Coasts of Dalmatia and the Ilands therunto belonging Among others ther be two celebrous Citties Zara and Cathara Zara is a place wonderfully well fortified and hath a very convenient Port but Cathara lieth in the bosom of a nook of the Adriatic Sea towards the East All the Countrey swells up and down with delightfull hills and hillocks which are all manurable but in regard of the circumambient Mountaines is so oreshadowed that they have not that proportion of light which their Neighbours have Of the Ilands which the Republic of Venice comands in the Ionian Sea THe first is Corcyra now calld Corfú scarce a mile distant from Albania's Continent She is threescore miles long 24. in breadth and in compasse 120. She hath the shape of a Bow bent towards the East She is mountanous towards the South and flat towards the North Her soyl is craggy and destitut of water so that a South wind oftentimes spoyles their Harvest therfore do they employ the Earth in planting Vineyards and Olives with other fruit trees and what they produce is extraordinarily good in evry kind In so much that She abounds with Wine Wax Honey Oile Pomcitrons and divers other fruits On the North side ther is the Castle of Saint Angelo which is notably fortified so that it hath frustrated the hopes of the Turk in sundry expeditions Towards the East ther are divers Creeks and Ports with two Peninsulas where upon one of them stands Pagiopolis the other by a little streight is cutt off from the Great Iland Opposit to these stands Corfú at the foot of a hill with two Castles strongly built by rules of Enginry which in a manner hang over her wherunto ther is another lately built of very great consequence Upon the right side of the Cittie ther lieth a Promontorie where the famous Fountain Cardâ—…cchio is The Port of this Town is a very safe Harbor and hath shelter sufficient against the fury of any tempest lett the wind blow which way it will The Captains of these Castles upon pain of death without mercy are neither to meet or converse one with another or send any Letters Tickets or any Messages but the Governor of the Town must be present and these cautions are usd because those Castles being as it were the Keyes of Venice and the Gulph and consequently of infinit consequence and trust the Senat wold prevent all ocasions that may be imagind to betray them In this Iland of old the Poets do sing that King Alcinous raignd whose plentifull Orchards were so memorizd by them insomuch that ever since they are grown to be a proverb for their fertilitie this Alcinous preservd Ulysses from Shipwrack so that the Poets make often mention of him one instance shall be Quid bifera Alcinoi referam Pomaria Vósque Qui nunquà m vacui prodistis in aethera rami Of Cephalonia CEphalonia is of a triangular form and hath in circumference 160. miles She hath many Stations for Shipps among whom Argostolica is the chiefest and capable to hold any Fleet within her Bosom Ther is another that lieth behind a Promontory calld Guiscardo wher ther yet remain many ruines of Castles Palaces and other Edifices and ther are daylie diggd out of the Earth many old Coines with other Monuments of Antiquity This Iland produceth a good proportion of Wheat and Oil and She is well stord with Sheep She hath allso plenty of Hony of Manna and Raysins of the Sun but She wants a sufficient competency of Water Ther is a white Muscadel Grape that growes which perfumes the breath after it is eaten and that Wine which is made therof is accounted the delicatst sort of Greek Wines though it make the brain clowdy if one drinks above two cupps but by reason of the over delicatnes therof it cannot brook the Sea any long time but it will prick and lose both tast and colour This Iland may have about 20000. Soules men and women in her This Iland is computed to have 200. Townes of all sorts besides those two before mentiond Nollo is the chiefest She was first calld Melena then Telebous whose King Prerelaus was killd in battail by Amphytrion a Theban Captain wherby the Ile came to be subject to Thebes During the stay of Amphytrion two accidents happend in Greece the first was that Iupiter gott his Wife Alcmena with child of Hercules the second was that Cephalonia a Nobleman of Athens being a hunting killd his Wife Procris with an Arrow insteed of his prey wherupon he fledd to Amphytrion who was newly victorious ore the Teleboans who resenting his case made him Governor of this Iland calld ever since Cephalonia after his name Of Zucinthus or the I le of Zant. ZAnt comes next to be surveyd which hath about 60. miles in circumgyration towards the East She is mountanous and rough but smooth and even towards the North She is more subject to Earthquakes than other places Her wealth consists in Oil Wine and Raysins wherby the Inhabitants subsist but She wants Corn because all the Earth is turnd to Vineyards She hath a Town which beares the same name with the Iland with a strong Castle and about 47. Villages The English Nation hath much improvd the wealth of this Iland since they traded for Currans thither wherof the English spend more than all other peeple At first the peeple of the I le seeing the English buy so much Currans askd them Whether they usd to dye Clothes or fatten Hoggs with them for those two uses they only make there of them Of Crete or Candie CRete now calld Candie is one of the most noble Ilands of the Mediterranean Sea She hath 270. in length and 50. in latitud Her situation is so oportune that Aristotle affirmed She was so situated that Natur her self intended her to be Mistresse of the Sea She is but a few dayes sayl not 100. distant both from Syria and Egypt being equally remote from both from Caramania Cyprus and Albania She is 300. miles distant Her Coasts are fretted out into divers Creeks and Promontories the principall wherof are Capo Spada and Capo Salmone wherof the one looks Westward the other Eastward but in the midst betwixt both Drepano rayseth up himself which is now calld Capo Melecca and the Promontory Zephyrium which is now calld
Alcelico That part of the Ile which beholds the Sun rising lyeth high and is not so fruitfull Among the rest of the Hills wherwith this gentle Iland swells up and down Mount Ida stands This Iland was calld in old time Hecatompolis or Cent oppidum having 100. Citties in her but now She hath not three of any moment and they are towards the North. The chiefest is Candia formerly calld Candida or Candace which hath about 100000. Souls Canea is the second formerly calld Cydona or Gnasos which hath 7000. Soules in her and Rhetino which hath so many more Besides these ther is another calld Scythia a Town of 600. fyres the rest are Villages and Dorps to the nomber of 90. wherin by the last cense that was made ther are 200000. Souls or therabouts But up and down evry where ther are Ruines Marks and Monuments of Antiquity and of other old Townes That part which looks towards the South is infested ever and anon with Northern blasts The secundity of the Iland consists in pasturage and Valleys wherin ther are great nombers of Cattle feeding and on her Plaines ther is good store of Corn growes but not a competent quantity for the whole Iland She abounds with rare Wines famous all the Earth over Ther is great store of Hony had there which is carried most comonly to Alexandria Ther is no place in the World wher ther be such high and goodly Cypresses She hath but small Rivers This Iland sympathiseth in one qualitie with Ireland for She produceth no venemous Beast She abounds with a luscious Wine calld Muskadell wherof the English Marchants have brought som yeers into England above 12000. Butts together with Sugar-Candie Gumms Hony Sugar Olives Dates Apples Oranges Lemmons Cittrons Pomgranatts It is a little wanton luxurious Iland which it seemes hath corrupted the nature of the Inhabitants insomuch that the old Poet Epimenides whose Verse is cited by Saint Paul gives this ill-favourd Character of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which comes very happilie into Latin verbatim Cres semper mendax mala bestia venter obesus The Candiotts are allways lyers ill beasts and slow bellies By reason of the situation of the Iland being seated in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea the Inhabitants came to be excellent Seamen so that it grew to be a proverb when one wold thwart an improbable thing he would say you will make me beleeve as soon that Cretensis nescit pelagus the Candiot is no Seaman Though ther be no venemous Cretures in this Iland yet they say Womens teeth are more poysonous there than elswhere for if a woman bite a man any thing deep he will never recover Besides they write that in this I le an herb grows calld Allimos which if one chaw in his mouth he shall feel no hunger The Republic came to this Iland by her money for She bought her of the Prince of Monferrat Anno 1194. But of late yeers though the Spaniard offerd as much for the Haven of Sada it self as She payed at first for the whole Iland the Republic would not listen unto the motion Of the Cittie of Venice Her-self WE are com now to the Mayden Cittie her-self to that Miracle of Nature to Neptune's Minion to that Impossibile nel impossibile for it was the Character which that famous Mariano Sozzino gave of Her when at his return from Venice to Rome he gave an account of his Embassie to the Pope when he went back dalle scale del Senato alla sede Apostolica from the Scales of Venice to the Seat of Rome for those are the stiles of distinction betwixt both the Courts as Constantinople is calld the Port the King of Spains Court the Palace the Emperours la Corte the Court simply and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or per Eminentiam This Wonder of Citties is seated in the bosom or betwixt the armes and aestuaries of the Adriatic Sea who spreading himself gently along towards the Continent of Italie leaves som green tuffs or tombs of Earth uncoverd upon which the Cittie is built and as it were chaind together by I know not how many hundred Bridges Insomuch that Venice is no other than a Convention of little Ilands peeping up above the Waters which may be an excuse for her salacity having such a salt tayle steepd and brind perpetually in the Sea In so much that it may be well thought that the Goddesse Venus and the Cittie of Venice had one kind of procreation being both engendred of the Sea It is allso very likely Aphrodite that wanton Lady had her Original out of that white Spume which Neptune casts upon those little gentle Ilands wheron Venice makes her bed The ocasion that made these watry Iles a mansion for men was when that Northern deluge of Goths Vandalls Hunns and Longobards did overflow all Italie which made peeple of all sorts fly to these Lakes to avoyd the Land torrent that was like to swallow them up and finding the air to be gentle and fitt for habitation and propagation and the clime more temperat than in other places though sited under the same latitud by reason of the fresh breezes and eventilations of the circumjacent Sea which makes it lyeope to all winds and evry point of the Compas They pitchd their Tents upon these Iles and associated them by conjoyning Bridges Inviting all peeple to com and cohabitt with them In so much that som derive the name of Venetiae from the word Venite Venite or Veni etiam com again by which they invited them of the Continent to dwell with them and fix their Commoration there They are therfore much deceavd who think that the Gentry of Venice are of a baser allay than others taking them to be no other than Fishermen at first No they were of the best rank of peeple that to avoyd the inundation of those barbarous peeple fledd thither from Rome Aquileia Padua Heraclea and all other places for a secure rendevous being frindly invited therunto which makes the Cittie of Venice to be the most hospitable place upon Earth to this day for all Commers Now the first Venetians had not their beginning from Italie but were issued of an ancient race of peeple in Asia calld the Hevetians of Paphlagonia who after the destruction of Troy came under the conduct of Antenor to Italie whose Tomb is to be seen standing in Padua to this day Now the Original of the Cittie of Venice according to the opinion of the most judicious Historians hapned in this manner As the fear of the Hunnes had possessd most of the Inhabitants of Italie and that the Venetians as formost in the danger were more apprehensive therof than any other therfore for their owne incolumity and freedom and being neerest than any other they retird from about those plesant places which borderd upon the Adriatic Sea into these small Iles or Lakes whither the Enemy could not pursue them And those who were the first Leaders were rich
lost then above sixty Gallies yet she appear'd again shortly after and about the streight of Gallipoli she lost again sixteen Gallies and the Genoway a little after took Canea in Candy but a peace was at last mediated ' twizt Venice and Genoa Upon these ill successes abroad ther were some treasons detected in Venice but quickly suppress'd Padoa also stir'd but to little purpose The next yeer notwithstanding all the late losses the Republic sends a considerable Fleet against Paleologus the Greek Emperour whereof Iustiniano was Generall because he refus'd to pay the Republic a great sum of money which he ow'd her this Fleet sailing into the Pontik Sea quickly brought Paleologus to reason to repay the mony This victroy did much heighten the spirits of Venice which had somwhat languish'd for her great losses in the Ligustic war with Genoa she also made her self Mistress of Ferrara a little after which being a City fewdetary to the Church of Rome the Pope excomunicated Venice interdicting her from the use of the Sacraments which drew a great deal of odium upon her so that she thought it high time to restore Ferrara to the Popes Legat yet she wold pause a little further upon 't About this time the famous conspiracy of Baâ—…amonti Tepulo was suppress'd who was kill'd by a Venetian woman out of a zeal to her Countrey who had an honorable Pension ever after during life MARINI GEORGO was now created the fiftieth Duke of Venice in his time Zara revolted the sixth time from the Republic but was reduc'd GIOVANNI SOVRANZA succeeded GEORGIO who had govern'd but ten moneths the City which had bin a good while anathematiz'd sent Francisco Dandulo to the Pope this Nobleman being admitted to the presence of Clement who perfectly hated Venice because of Ferrara by a wonderfull example of piety to his Countrey and love to Religion continued a long time on the ground before the Popes Table with an iron chain about his head like a dog untill the Excommunication was taken off which was don upon those acts of penitence Hereupon a little after Venice had a notable successe against Genoa in the Pontik Sea where above thirty bottomes were sunk and taken by JUSTINIANO the Generall FRANCISCO DANDULO who had bin Ambassador with the Pope and by that penance formerly spoken of had got the Excommunication taken off was elected the next Duke the Polani and the Valesians who had bin a long time subject to the Patriark of Aquileia did voluntarily yeeld themselfs under the protection of Venice About this time the Republic did divers exploits upon the Coasts of Syria against the Turks for securing of Navigation upon those Coasts she likewise did many feats in Lombardy her Army took Padoua and Bergamo Brescia also fell under her protection BARTILMEO GRADONICO was chosen next and a little after ther arose one night a most furious Tempest which caus'd such an inundation three foot deep above the streets of the City In this Dukes time ther came Ambassadors from England craving aid against Philip the French King whom the Genoways who were mortall enemies to Venice did favour but nothing could be obtain'd and this was the first time that ther was any acquaintance 'twixt England and Venice which was in the yeer 1332 ther was another revolt in Candie suppress'd ANDREA DANDULO came next to the principality a man of extraordinary parts of learning as well as valour for he compil'd the Venetian story in two styles The Republic sent a Fleet against the Turk which took Smyrna again There was an Ambassadour sent by the Senat to the King of Babylon concerning the Venetians free Trade into Egypt which though stood upon by the Pope in regard they were Infidells was setled Zara had rebell'd now the seventh time but was reduced and Lewis King of Hungarie repuls'd There happen'd a fearfull earthquake in Venice about this time which overturn'd divers steeples and palaces This Earthquake usher'd in a fearfull contagion which brought the City to a pitifull desolation for the time the said earthquake lasting fifteen dayes by intermissions This terible earthquake gives me occasion to desire leave of the Reader to step a little aside out of the great Road of this History and make a short excursion to give a touch of the causes of these dreadfull effects of nature of these tremblings and shiverings of the earth or rather Aguish shaking fits wherunto we find her body is as subject as the body of men or lions who are observed to have their monthly paroxismes The Babylonian Philosophers think the cause of these impetuous motions hapneth by the force of som Planet meeting with the Sun in the region of the earth others hold it to be a vapour a long time engendring in som concavities of the earth and restrain'd from salâ—…ying forth into the air others affirme that 't is a wind peâ—…'d up in the entrails of the earth Pliny sayeth that the earth never quaketh but when the Sea is very calm and the air so still and clear as the birds can hardly bear themselves up and that the winds are then shut up in the bowells of the earth their improper station He addeth further that an earthquake is nothing else but as thunder in the air or an overture and crevice in the earth or as lightning breaking forth violently and making irruptions from the midst of the clouds the wind inclos'd therin and strugling to comforth by force The Stoicks speak of divers sorts of Earthquakes that cause the gapings of the earth the swellings of the water and boiling of the same a horrid confus'd sound commonly precedeth and accompanieth this quaking somtimes like to the roaring of a Bull somtimes to the lamentable cry of som humane creature or like the clattring of armor according to the quality of the matter which is inclos'd or according to the form of the cave and hole or Spelunca through which it passeth which resounds in vaulty and hollow places It waxeth hot in sharp and dry places and causeth defluxions in those that are moâ—…st and humid Now amongst all Earthquakes the agitation of the waters is most dangerous for lightning is not so hurtfull nor the shaking of buildings or when the earth is puff'd up or falleth down by an interchangeable motion because the one keeps back the other The safest buildings are those upon vaults the corners of walls and on bridges leaning one against another beside brick buildings are lesse dangerous in such accidents your skilfull Navigators can foretell these earthquakes at such time as they perceive the waves to swell on a sudden without a wind and likewise those on land may likewise foretell them when they behold birds in a maze to stay their flight or when waters in wells are troubled more than ordinary having a bad unsavoury smell all these are presages of such hideous motions Pherecydes the Syrian drawing water out of a well foretold an Earthquake